New Cappadocian Graffiti and Their Linguistic Features

Abstract

This article deals with 11 new unpublished Greek graffiti found during the archeological works in Cappadocia with T.A. Bobrovsky and E.E. Chueva on 2010 year on the frescoes of the church of Nikifor Foka in Chavushin in Cappadocia. For each analyzed inscription is offered analysis of spelling and paleography, as well as linguistic commentary. All of them are the traditional prayer inscriptions addressed to the Lord using in its structure the formula «Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τὸν δούλον σοῦ» (Lord, help to Your slave). In these graffiti the accusative case is usual after the verb “βοήθει” one of the typical features of Cappadocian texts. In analyzed monuments we can see such names: Basil twice, Constantine three times, Feodul, Emilianon, Agrippinus, Ioannis, Kosmas, Talibei, Epistyma. Some of these graffiti are written with a mauscule letters, some with a minuscule letters with a large number of abbreviations.

Keywords

• византия, каппадокия, чавушин, никифор фока, византийский греческий язык, греческие граффити